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 "House of Cards" put Netflix on the map as a home for original
entertainment when the series debuted in 2013 starring Spacey as
conniving politician Frank Underwood. The show's coming sendoff
centers on Robin Wright, who plays Frank's devious wife, Claire.
"We're really proud of the show, and it's a fitting end," Cindy
Holland, vice president of original series at Netflix, said in
response to questions at a Television Critics Association event
where networks promoted upcoming shows.
"We always planned for season six to be the final season, and we
are proud of the work of Robin" and the rest of the cast and
crew, she added. The company has not yet set a release date.
"House of Cards" upended television when Netflix released the
first season's episodes all at once to encourage online "binge
viewing." The show earned widespread critical praise.
In November 2017, Netflix quickly cut ties with Spacey after
allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced. Spacey has been
accused by more than 20 men and has said nothing publicly about
the allegations since an apology to the first accuser in October
2017.
Five years after Netflix's gamble with "House of Cards," the
company plans to release about 700 original TV series, movies
and other types of programming around the world this year. The
sheer volume has led to questions about whether Netflix can keep
churning out programming with a high level of quality.
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"Quality and quantity are not mutually exclusive," Holland said. "We
are maintaining quality as we grow by hiring brilliant talent who
are passionate about the stories they want to tell and giving them
creative space."
She also addressed complaints from some producers that their work
can get lost in the flood of Netflix programming. Netflix devises a
marketing plan for each show and is one of the biggest online
advertisers in the world, Holland said.
She added that the best way to reach viewers was by Netflix's
promotion of the shows when people turn on the service. The company
reported it had 130 million subscribers at the end of June.
"That is by far the most powerful promotional vehicle we have," she
said. "I'm confident we are doing justice to our programming."
(Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Peter Cooney)
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